Chapter 1 Summer Vacation

In a tour bus for the Muscle Leaguers…

"Hmm…It says here that this place has breath-taking sceneries…" said a green-haired girl who was looking at a brochure.

"The townspeople here are kind too…" said a blonde who took the brochure from the previous girl.

"That place is awesome."

"It's a wonderful place!"

"What is that place?" The two of them said in unison.

A brown-haired girl sighed. "You two had that brochure for an hour already! Lemme see that, Trixie!"

The blondie handed over the brochure.

"So…We're heading to Hinamizawa."

"Roxanne! I'm so excited!"

"Me too, Kiki!" said the brown-haired girl to the green-haired girl.

Suddenly, Roxanne felt something slimy run down her face. "EEKKK! KIIIIDDD! WAKE UP! STOP DROOLING ON MEEEEE!"

"Apparently, he's been asleep for an hour already." Kiki sweatdropped.

Roxanne gave the silly wrestler a powerful slap to the face. That woke him up.

"WWWHHHHHAAAAA?—"

"Tsk! You're such an idiot!"

"What? What? Did I do something wrong?..."

Roxanne just kept quiet.

"Hey! Roxanne? My love? Say something!"

A walrus-looking wrestler whispered to the gazelle-looking wrestler, " Hey Dik Dik, I wonder why Roxanne isn't in the Intergalactic Wrestling Federation with us…"

"That's what bewilders me too, Wally."

Two more hours later and they made it to their destination. Their bus stopped at a waiting shed. The gang was surprised that the shed was covered in talismans. But they ignored that weird display.

"Holy cow pie! It sure is hot outside!" a wrestler with a Texan accent was the first to get out of the bus. He was known as Terry "the Grand" Kenyon or "Terry the Kid".

"At least you don't have a lot of blubber like me, Terry." Wally commented. Wally was a walrus and his fur wasn't exactly helping.

"I hope there's a swimming pool or a swimming spot somewhere…" Roxanne sighed.

"There's a nearby stream somewhere."

Roxanne turned to look whoever said that and saw a little girl with dark-blue hair. The little girl smiled. Roxanne felt an eerie presence. She glanced at the others, but they were just talking to each other as if she wasn't there. She approached the little girl.

"Mii… My name is Furude Rika!"

"I'm Roxanne. Roxanne Nikaido."

"If you would please come with me, the stream is just ahead. Nipah!~ There's a lot of little fishies there too!"

"I…I'll check with my friends first."

"Mii…Okay!"

Roxanne turned to the others. She heard the team manager say something about their guide to the village of Hinamizawa.

"It says here that our guide should be in this spot waiting for us." said the miniature manager. Then Roxanne cut in.

"Meat, guys, there was this little girl and…"

Before she even finished, Rika left.

"…She said that there was a nearby stream. We just have to walk that path straight ahead. Isn't that right, Rika-chan?"

She turned, but there was no one there. "Huh? She's gone?"

"Roxanne what are you talking about? There's no one here but us. Besides, we still have to stay here to wait for our guide." said Trixie.

"But…But…She was…I mean…Rika-chan was just here a while ago! I swear! I even talked to her! For all we know, she could be the guide!"

"Uh…Roxanne," said Kid Muscle. "I think the heat's getting into your head. We didn't see anybody."

"That's because you guys were talking amongst yourselves! I was the only one who noticed Rika-chan and approached her!"

"Anyway, it's ridiculously getting hot, you guys!" Wally exclaimed. "Can't we go to the stream that Roxanne told us about? Now, please?"

"Mmyess…There is no use if the lot of us just stay here." said Checkmate.

" Yeah! Maybe we can meet up with Rika-chan again!" Roxanne said, excited.

"Okay people! Let's go onward and forward!" said Meat.

They followed the path that Roxanne learned form Rika and made it to the stream. They removed their shoes and prepared to wade in the stream...And have a little splash.

Kiki liked it very much. "Wow! There's even little fishies here!"

Roxanne heard some soft splashing and saw Rika.

"Rika-chan! There you are!"

"Nipah! You made it, Roxanne!"

"I want you to meet my friends! Come with me!"

"Okay! Mii!~"

Roxanne and Rika splashed through the clear blue stream water towards the Muscle Leaguers, Meat, Trixie, and Kiki.

"Guys, meet Rika Furude-chan!"

Some of the group said 'Hi!' and 'Hello!'

Terry greeted her with, "Howdy, little lady! Nice ta meet ya!"

Rika began to shy away and hide behind Roxanne.

"Aww…Don't be shy." said Roxanne.

Then Rika spoke up. "Mii…Hi…I'm Rika…Six years old."

"Isn't she cute!" Dik Dik said as he smiled at her.

"I…I'm supposed to be your guide… To everyone who comes here actually…"

"So, she IS our guide!" Trixie exclaimed.

"Here in Hinamizawa, the people are united. That's why this village is peaceful and beautiful."

They all quieted down and listened to her.

"But sometimes, the villagers cannot deny the fact that there are dark secrets within this village. Outsiders tend to be the victims of the so called Oyashiro-sama's curse."

Wally whispered to Checkmate. "Is it me or does this six-year-old girl know big words for her age?"

"I do agree with thou, Sir Wally." replied the chess set wrestler.

"A curse? That's ridiculous! I don't believe in that mystic mumbo-jumbo." scoffed Dik Dik.

The German wrestler, Jaeger, who was quiet for a long time spoke up. "Gazelleman, tell that to Dazzle!"

"But he's part of the Poison Six Pack! Why would I associate myself with those baddies?"

"It would be better if you guys left and find another place to spend your summer vacation." Rika said darkly.

"Rika-chan what are you saying?" Roxanne replied.

"I'm telling you to leave Hinamizawa right now."

"But we just got here!" the youngest of the Muscle family exclaimed. "And I wanted to go swimming!"

Roxanne gulped. She knew somehow that this was not the Rika-chan she knew.

"Well…Whoever you are…We will stay here."

"What a brave soul. Although, this is your first warning."

Rika stared at Roxanne with terrifying eerie eyes. "You'll regret staying here."

Rika went ahead to go back. The she stopped and turned. "What're you guys still doing there?" She smiled an innocent smile. 'I have a scheduled tour with you guys!"

They were bewildered. One second she sounded evil, the other second she was the innocent girl that Roxanne met.

What was that about? Roxanne thought.